C11: Stranded
Aida and Alex had once again been separated, but they did not return to the train. Aida was surrounded by multiple guards and dragged outside. They beat her against until she lost consciousness and came to, to find night had fallen.
When they saw she was awake, they did not let her rest.
Four men grabbed her and spread her out on the sand as another came with rope, a hammer, and some nails. She couldn't even struggle anymore as she was spread-eagled out on the floor, tied and pitched down. Her bravado left her when they brought out their knives and each, in turn, tore at her clothes, ripping the sleeves of the dress she had been kidnapped in.
"Please!"
She begged them as the fabric tore and exposed her flesh. But only her arms and legs were bare…they stopped after that.
Instead, in the cold night, they stood over and waited. She didn't have to wonder long what it was they waited for, when Lock-Nah appeared again, this time, with a bottle of something.
He held it up and over her and she turned her head away and shut her eyes as the slosh of wine hit her skin, splashing over her face, neck, and shoulders.
"More," he commanded and each man, in turn, grabbed a bottle and began to pour it on her skin.
She didn't escape from drinking it though, because he grabbed her face and forced the tip into her mouth. She spluttered and spat but drank what she could before he pulled away and poured the rest on her.
"You better drink it. It's all you will get when we leave you."
Aida blinked and looked up at him.
"You're leaving us here?" She asked, hopeful that he was abandoning them and that their purpose was served. But she was only half right.
"Just you. The boy stays with us."
"Please, just-"
"YOU are more trouble than you appear. But Meela does not want you to have a quick death," his free hand wandered down, over her neck and squeezed it as he smiled, "which is a shame. We had such plans for you."
"Lock-Nah!"
Immediately, he let her go and turned around, bowing before Imhotep. Aida strained to see him and found that he and Meela had brought along Alex. His hands were bound and his head was low and it appeared he had been crying, but other than that, he was not hurt.
It seemed, as one last, cruel, twisted act of mercy, Alex had been brought to see her. To say goodbye.
She could see he was trying to be brave, but beneath the façade, she saw the bottom lip quiver.
Meela, who had by now apparently fully become Anck-su-namun -but no less cruel- smiled and pushed him forward.
"Say goodbye to your friend."
Alex, doing as he was told, crouched down and pressed a little kiss against Aida's cheek. But he lingered and whispered as quietly as he could, "I'll try to get free and come back for you."
She knew that was impossible. They'd be watching him and her like hawks before they'd left and then…even if he did get free and find his way back on foot...she'd already be…
Sniffing away her emotions she managed to force out a small smile and pressed a kiss against his cheek.
"You just get yourself to safety and remember, your mum and dad are coming-"
"Enough!" Lock-Nah reached out and snatched Alex back, the boy fighting it all and trying to stay with her. He tossed his small body towards another man, who began to walk away.
He was still fighting when he was picked up and carried.
"Alex!" She cried out, hoping he could still hear her, "Alex, be brave! They are on their way, I know it!"
And then, he was gone. She could no longer hear him and the only people around her were enemies.
Watching her with glee as she suffered and let the last of her hope fade.
Lock-Nah finally turned back to her and reached out, stroking her sticky, wet cheek.
"Farewell. I only wish I could see your love's face when he finds you."
Whilst Aida wanted nothing more than to be saved and held in Ardeth's arms, she prayed…she prayed that he wouldn't be too late to find her. She prayed that Lock-Nah would never get to see Ardeth's face if she did not make it.